Former students honor retired high school teacher ahead of her 101st birthday

WAYNE, Neb. (KOLN/Gray News) - A school teacher was honored at one of her student’s homes ahead of her 101st birthday.

Kaye Miller will turn 101 on May 30. After touching so many lives in northeast Nebraska, she celebrated her early birthday surrounded by former students from Wayne High School.

Judy Longe was one of the former students who attended the special event.

“We all her because she was such a special teacher and taught us so much,” she said.

Miller grew up on a farm in Nebraska, between Pender and Emerson, before graduating as the valedictorian from Thurston High School.

During wartime, Miller stayed at home to help during her first semester of college, but was able to take advantage of her scholarship to Wayne State College in her second semester.

“I went to college and met my friends, which in itself is a story, because there were seven of us, and we stayed friends until we all died,” Miller said. “I’m the last one of those seven girls.”

When she was in college, her father told her about a teaching job at a country school.

“I said, ‘Dad, I’d like to go back to school.’ He says, ‘Honey, you can get 15 dollars a month if you go,’ and that was my salary,” Miller said.

Miller went on to work as a teacher, working in country schools and eventually moving to Wayne.

The women at the luncheon were Miller’s first freshman high school students at Wayne High School from 1963. They all said there’s a reason why they her.

“I think because she was so personable to everybody, and for me because she was our neighbor,” Longe said.

Gary Gilster of rural Pender said he re his time at Miller’s country school. Decades later, Miller still re what kind of student he was.

“(He was) quiet, very quiet and never caused any trouble at all,“ Miller said. ”That’s how I him.”

Gilster also recalled fond memories of being taught by Miller.

“I liked her. About all I can is I liked her, but I didn’t say anything. I was so quiet I didn’t say anything,” Gilster said.

Miller made a career out of bringing out the best in people and taking them for who they are.

In her life, there have been challenges, including being married twice and losing two of her children in aviation accidents.

Her husband, Dick, lived to be 103 years old before dying a few years ago.

With great grandkids and a lifetime of memories, Miller looks forward to yet another birthday.

“Age is just a number,” Miller said. “I’m fortunate God is good to me and that He’s let me continue to think and be able to do things. And my health is pretty good.”

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